 Jenson Button driving the MP4-26 at the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix | |||||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | McLaren | ||||||||||
| Designer(s) | Neil Oatley (Executive Engineer) Paddy Lowe (Technical Director) Tim Goss (Engineering Director) Mark Williams (Head of Vehicle Engineering) Andrew Bailey (Chief Designer) Luca Furbatto (Project Leader) John Iley (Head of Aerodynamics) Doug McKiernan (Chief Aerodynamicist) | ||||||||||
| Predecessor | McLaren MP4-25 | ||||||||||
| Successor | McLaren MP4-27 | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications[1] | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Moulded carbon fibre honeycomb composite incorporating front and side impact structures and integral safety fuel cell | ||||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Inboard torsion bar / damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement | ||||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | as front, except operated by pullrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement | ||||||||||
| Length | 5,070 mm (200 in) | ||||||||||
| Width | 1,800 mm (71 in) | ||||||||||
| Height | 950 mm (37 in) | ||||||||||
| Engine | Mercedes-Benz FO 108Y 2.4 L (146 cu in) V8 (90°). Naturally aspirated, 18,000 RPM limited with KERS, mid-mounted. | ||||||||||
| Transmission | McLaren Applied 7-speed + 1 reverse sequential seamless semi-automatic paddle shift with epicyclic differential and multi-plate limited slip clutch | ||||||||||
| Battery | GS Yuasa lead acid | ||||||||||
| Weight | 640 kg (1,411 lb) (including driver) | ||||||||||
| Fuel | ExxonMobil High Performance Unleaded (5.75% bio fuel) Mobil Synergy Fuel System | ||||||||||
| Lubricants | Mobil 1 | ||||||||||
| Tyres | Pirelli P Zero Enkei wheels (front and rear): 13" | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | Vodafone McLaren Mercedes | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | 3.  Lewis Hamilton4. Jenson Button | ||||||||||
| Debut | 2011 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| First win | 2011 Chinese Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last win | 2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last event | 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
The McLaren MP4-26 was a Formula One racing car designed by McLaren for the 2011 Formula One season. The chassis was designed by Paddy Lowe, Neil Oatley, Tim Goss, Andrew Bailey and John Iley and was powered by a customer Mercedes-Benz engine. It was driven by Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, the 2008 and 2009 World Drivers' Champions, respectively. The car was launched on 4 February at Potsdamer Platz located in Berlin, Germany,[2] shortly after the first test session of the season in Valencia. McLaren test driver Gary Paffett, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button drove an interim version of the car's predecessor, the MP4-25 at the first tests to get experience with the final tyre compounds provided by new tyre supplier Pirelli.[3]
- ^ "MP4-26 Tech Spec". McLaren. McLaren Marketing Ltd. 4 February 2011. Archived from the original on 7 February 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ Benson, Andrew (4 February 2011). "Lewis Hamilton & Jenson Button thrilled by new McLaren". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ Noble, Jonathan (7 January 2011). "McLaren plans interim car for first test". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 4 February 2011.